LeBron's status unclear

[645]

PHILADELPHIA - LeBron James missed his first game of the season Friday and there's a chance he may miss more time.

An X-ray and MRI revealed no structural damage to James' right big toe on Thursday. He sprained the toe last week and re-aggravated it on Wednesday night, which prompted a trip to the Cleveland Clinic instead of practice on Thursday.

However, James was still very sore and all concerned agreed he should rest it as a precaution. He was walking gingerly while dressed in a suit on the Cavs bench in Friday's victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Beacon Journal

[645]

It was 45 minutes before tip-off last night at the Wachovia Center, and Anthony Dunaway was standing behind one of the baskets snapping pictures of the Cleveland Cavaliers as they warmed up for the game against the 76ers.

Wearing a LeBron James jersey and the superstar's signature basketball shoes, Dunaway was one of the last to get the news: James would not be suiting up because he sprained his right big toe Wednesday in the Cavaliers' 118-115 double-overtime loss to the Sixers in Cleveland.

"What? What?" the 26-year-old Dunaway said after he was told about James' injury. "Are you serious? LeBron James is not in the lineup tonight? Oh, no! That's so disappointing. This totally ruins my day."

Inquirer & Daily News

[645]

An inner turmoil rages within LeBron James. The Cavaliers star recognizes that his aching right toe, both bruised and sprained, isn’t getting any better. He tweaked it again Sunday in a loss to Phoenix, and Monday sat out the team’s only full-contact drill in practice.

Another voice in James’ head fumes at the thought of sitting on the bench and watching his Cavaliers host the Golden State Warriors tonight. Even if it’s a real possibility that he might.

Plain Dealer

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CLEVELAND - LeBron James gave the national television audience and the sellout crowd at Quicken Loans Arena what it wanted on Sunday but not without a cost.

James laced up his Nikes and played despite not being sure his sprained right big toe was ready. He performed at a high level, scoring 30 points in 42 minutes, but he re-injured the toe during the fourth quarter of the loss to the Phoenix Suns. His status for the near future is now questionable.

``I felt good coming into the game, but towards the end I starting limping,'' James said. ``It's definitely going to take time for me.''

Beacon Journal

[645]

CLEVELAND - The most famous big toe in town needs pampering, and LeBron James just might give it some.

The All-Star forward said Monday he'll consider sitting out Cleveland's next few games to rest his sore right toe, which he injured on a recent road trip and aggravated during Sunday's game against Phoenix.

After missing Friday's game at Philadelphia, James returned and scored 30 points in 42 minutes against the Suns, but he re-injured the toe during the fourth quarter of the Cavaliers' 115-100 loss.

Beacon Journal

[SirPaul]

didn't he reinjure it after being put back into the game after protesting being pulled out?